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I just didn’t know how to begin this. I wrote those words just a little more than three years ago. But, at the time, it was myself I was referring to. I call the summer of 2009 the “breast cancer summer”. It seems like a lifetime ago. I can look back and say I’m cancer free. But this time, it’s not me.

It’s my dad. and it’s Lymphoma.

Several months ago Daddy started having back pain. He also noticed some hearing loss in his left ear. After checking some things out, the doctor noticed a “fatty tissue” on Daddy’s cheek in front of his hear, under the arm of his glasses. He decided to do a fine needle biopsy on July 17. Nine days later, he told my mom and dad that it looked like lymphoma. The doctor then decided to do another biopsy to get a larger sample for testing. Daddy had that surgery on July 31. He was then referred to an oncologist, Dr. Salter. We met with Dr. Salter on August 8 at the Oncology Center at Howard Regional Health in K-town.

Dr. Salter scheduled a PET scan for yesterday, the 13th and a bone marrow biopsy for this morning, the 14th.

Seester and I went with Mom and Daddy to both appointments. The bone marrow biopsy was a little scary for me, not gonna lie. We were actually in the room with Daddy while it was going on. The pathologist and his assistant came in and prepped Daddy and I started crying because I was afraid we weren’t going to get the opportunity to pray for Daddy. I just felt the need to pray for God to be there and for peace and for wisdom and for the doctor’s steady hands. Seester finally asked the Doctors if we could please pray before he got started, so I prayed out loud…for the doctor to hear. 🙂

It was a little frightening to see Daddy in this position. He looked like a little kid up there on that bed, curled up into the fetal position (so they could get him in a good position for the biopsy).

We are praying for healing, we are anticipating the unknown, we are believing in God’s sovereignty, we are claiming His peace that passes all understanding.

While it is frightening, sometimes scary to think about what the future holds, I also know the One Who holds that future. I just need to remember that He’s already in that future. There is really no reason for me to be frightened.

But I still don’t want to lose my Daddy.

Daddy has this tattoo that commemorates the outfit he was in in Viet Nam…the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Then on top of that insignia is a three-nail cross, which represents the three nails that pierced Jesus’ hands and feet…the cross covers the insignia…the sin…the guilt…The Cross brought Freedom to Daddy at the moment of his salvation.

Seester and I decided to honor Daddy by getting that same three-nail cross tattoo on our wrists. It’s an awesome tattoo and we are very grateful for the man who honored our Daddy by doing these tattoo’s for free. Thanks Jayme! You Rock!